Download America joins the fight

AMERICA JOINS
THE FIGHT
CHAPTER 24, SECTION 2
KEY TERMS
• John J. Pershing - John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing was the general in the United
States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces to victory over Germany in
World War I, 1917–18
• American Expeditionary Force - consisted of the United States Armed Forces sent
to Europe under the command of General John J. Pershing in 1917 to help fight World
War I .
• Convoy system – a heavy guard of destroyers that escorts merchant ships during
wartime
• Second Battle of the Marne – a 1918 battle during World War I that marked the
turning point in the war; allied troops along with Americans halted the German advance
into France
• Alvin York - Alvin Cullum York, known also by his rank, Sergeant York, was one of the
most decorated soldiers of the United States Army in World War I.
• Armistice – an end to fighting
Terms and People
• Vladimir Lenin– Bolshevik leader who seized
control of Russia’s government in 1917
• communism– an economic and political
system based on the idea that social classes
and the right to private property should be
eliminated
• Meuse-Argonne Offensive - also known as the
Maas-Argonne Offensive and the Battle of
the Argonne Forest, was a major part of the final
Allied offensive of World War I that stretched
along the entire Western Front. It was fought from
September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of 11
November 1918, a total of 47 days.
BELL RINGER
These questions help students
understand aspects of the Western Front.
• 1. Look at the map on page 688. In
what country were most battles of the
war on the Western Front fought?
• 2. About how far were the Germans
pushed back by the time of the
armistice? How long did that take?
Objectives
• Understand the setbacks that the Allies faced in
1917 and 1918.
• Discover how American forces contributed to
the Allied victory.
• Explain the agreement that ended the fighting.
How did the arrival of American troops
in Europe affect the course of the
war?
After Congress declared war, it took over a
year for the U.S. to engage in major battles.
American soldiers quickly helped bring about
an overwhelming Allied victory.
In 1917, U.S. forces prepared to go
overseas. The U.S. Army chose John J.
Pershing to lead American troops in Europe.
He wanted American troops
to fight in separate units
under U.S. command.
This would show the world
that the U.S. could stand
on its own.
RAISING AN ARMY AND A NAVY
• 1. How did Americans prepare for war?
– Government began a draft (Selective Service Act)
• 2. What part did women and African Americans play in
military operations?
– Women – served as clerical workers, nurses,
interpreters, switch-board operators, entertainers,
and ambulance drivers
– African Americans – more than 370,000 served;
many barred from combat and limited to manual
labor and service positions. Faced discrimination.
Meanwhile, German submarines attacked ships bringing
supplies from the U.S. to the Allies.
More than 11 million
tons of Allied
shipments were
destroyed and nearly
14,000 people were
killed.
Allied naval leaders had destroyers sail in
convoy with supply ships for protection.
Allied ship losses fell dramatically.
AMERICAN SHIPS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
• 3. How did the Allies respond to German submarine attacks?
– Used a convoy system
– Laid a barrier of 70,000 mines in the North Sea
U.S. troops joined the Allies in June 1917,
but the Allies continued to face setbacks.
The Italians
were defeated
by the Central
Powers at
Caparetto.
Russia
withdrew from
the war and
made peace
with Germany.
In March
1918,
Germany
broke through
the Allied
lines.
AMERICAN TROOPS ENTER THE WAR
• 4. How did the arrival of American troops in Europe affect
the Allies?
– Boosted their morale; U.S. troops were fresh and had
higher morale than the Allied troops who had been
fighting for three years.
• 5. What role did American troops play in countering the
German offensive in 1918?
– American soldiers attacked the French town of Cantigny;
within two hours they had taken control from the
Germans
– Americans held their ground at Château-Thierry
On November 7, 1917, a radical group called
the Bolsheviks seized control of Russia.
The new leader, Vladimir Lenin, embraced the
ideas of communism.
Social classes and
private property
should be eliminated.
Workers should unite
to overthrow the
ruling class.
Losing Russia was a huge setback for the
Allies.
Lenin pulled Russia out of the war and made
peace with Germany.
Russia gave Germany land on the Western Front.
Germany moved many troops into its new
territory.
In March 1918, Germany began a series of attacks
called the “peace offensive.” In June, the Germans broke
through Allied lines in Belgium and France.
Pershing pledged that U.S. troops would now fight under
French command.
U.S. troops
arrived to
reinforce the
Allies.
In the summer of 1918, U.S. troops helped turn
the tide for the Allies.
In July, the Allies
defeated the
Germans in France.
The Allies began an
offensive.
By November, they
were advancing on
Germany.
PUSHING THE GERMANS BACK
• 6. Why was the Second Battle of the Marne a turning point in the
war?
– The Allies stopped the German advance
– From then on, the Americans advanced steadily and caused the
Germans to lose all the territory they had gained since the spring.
• 7. How did American soldiers demonstrate qualities of courage and
heroism in the war?
– Sergeant York
– Eddie Rickenbacker, “ace of aces”
– Four African American combat units (369th, 371st, 372nd, and part
of the 370th)
Germany’s leaders realized that their cause was
lost. They decided to seek an armistice.
France and
Britain wanted to
impose a harsh
settlement.
President Wilson
proposed a peace
plan based on
international
cooperation.
France and Britain dictated the terms of the
armistice.
The terms of the armistice were harsh.
Germany was forced to:
Cancel its
peace treaty
with Russia
Pull back its
troops from the
Western Front
Hand over
all of its
U-boats
President Wilson also demanded that Germany’s
leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II, step down.
The Kaiser fled, and Germany became a republic.
The armistice took effect at 11 A.M. on
November 11, 1918.
The war had ended.
Soldiers could hardly
believe it.
Soldiers returned home.
Millions had been
severely wounded.
World War I was the most destructive war history
had yet seen.
It cost the lives of
10 million military
personnel.
Some historians
believe just as
many civilians died.
GERMANY STOPS FIGHTING
• 8. What events made Germany’s surrender likely?
– The defeat of Meuse-Argonne
– Germany’s navy mutinied
– Germany’s allies dropped out
– The Kaiser (German emperor) stepped down
– November 11, 1918 at 11:00AM – the 11th hour, of the 11th day,
of the 11th month
• 9. What were the costs of the war?
– 8.5 million soldiers died
– 21 million were wounded
– Millions of civilian deaths from starvation and disease